Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin: Book Analysis

The Great Questions Essay: Uncle Tom’s Cabin Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin was written in 1852 as a way to expose the morbid hell of slavery. Even though it is fiction, the book revealed the harsh treatment of slaves. After forcing Northerners, Southerners, and politicians to confront the issue of slavery, this book became one of the many catalysts that sparked the Civil War. Harriet tells a story of tears, sorrow, triumphs, and most importantly, undoubted faith in God. Though it was written more than 150 years ago, this work of literature is unfathomably modern because of its possession of some of the same problems that we deal with today. We learn of the characters’ trials as they try to overcome and escape slavery. This book addresses so much more than just slavery; the readers are introduced to many questions: does God exist, why do bad things happen, why does God allow evil to exist, does God punish wrongdoers, or reward good people? These questions remain unanswered today. God exists, but people only understand him through faith, doing His will, and reading the Gospel. The slaves question whether God exists, especially when they are forced with tribulation and hardship, like hearing that they or their children will be sold away. But through it all, Tom and Aunt Chloe have undoubted faith. This is evident when we read about their prayer service with the other slaves, when they sing hymns and “young Mas’r George” reads from the bible. (Page 34-36). But others, like George Harris (Eliza’s husband) and Cassy, doubt the existence of God. “I an’t a Christian like you, Eliza; my heart’s full of bitterness, I can’t trust in God.” (Page. 21) He says this after Eliza tries to dissuade him from running away by telling him “O, George, don’t do anything wicked; if you only trust in God, and try to do right, He’ll deliver you.” (Page. 21) A more extreme case is Cassy, who doesn’t believe in the existence of God at all. Cassy tries to tell Tom that he